Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) serve to increase student access to authentic scientific opportunities. Current evidence within the literature indicates that engagement in CUREs promotes students’ science identity development, science self-efficacy, motivation, and ability to “think like a scientist.” Despite the importance of these findings, few studies have examined the behaviors and interactions occurring within CURE and non-CURE settings and the impact of those behaviors on said student outcomes. To address these concerns, we conducted a mixed-methods study to explore student and instructor behaviors in four CURE and four non-CURE introductory biology laboratory sections. Representative video data were collected in each section and coded using the Laboratory Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM. In addition, pre/postsemester affective survey data were obtained from CURE and non-CURE participants. Results indicated that CURE students and instructors engaged in more interactive behaviors (e.g., one-on-one dialogue, questioning) than their non-CURE counterparts, a finding confirmed by analyzing behavioral patterns via construction of partial correlation networks. Multiple regression analyses further revealed that both student and instructor interactive behaviors and enrollment in a CURE were strong predictors of pre/postsemester shifts in student motivation, science identity development, collaboration, and perceived opportunities to make relevant scientific discoveries.

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Travertine deposits are important records of past fluid flow in the Earth's crust, and document fluid migration through both tectonic activity and changes in climate. While many studies hint at possible relationships between travertine formation and global climate, none have investigated these connections on a global scale. Here we compile 1649 published travertine ages from six continents to test the hypothesis that global and/or regional changes in climate regulate travertine deposition. Peaks in bedded travertine ages occur with main frequencies that correspond to 100‐kyr changes in global climate, where most peaks occur during glacial terminations or interglacial periods, including a large peak that coincides with the Early Holocene climatic optimum. Time–series analysis also suggests a possible connection with 41‐kyr obliquity cycles. At regional scales, many peaks also correspond with local times of high precipitation or wet conditions. This can be attributed to higher groundwater recharge rates, providing the necessary water to form travertine. Many bedded travertine‐depositing systems may therefore be water‐limiting and sufficient CO2 may be present even during times of no travertine deposition. Exceptions to this conclusion are banded vein travertine deposits, which typically form during times of dry climate when water tables are low. Copyright © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mnemonics (memory aids) are often viewed as useful in helping students recall information, and thereby possibly reducing stress and freeing up more cognitive resources for higher-order thinking. However, there has been little research on statistics mnemonics, especially for large classes. This article reports on the results of a study conducted during two consecutive fall semesters at a large U.S. university. In 2014, a large sample (n D 1487) of college students were asked about the usefulness of a set of 19 published statistics mnemonics presented in class, and in 2015, the students (n D 1468) were presented 12 mnemonics related to inference and then asked whether or not they used mnemonics on that exam. This article discusses how students assess the usefulness of mnemonics and evaluates the relationship between using mnemonics and reducing anxiety. Additionally, the relationship between mnemonic usage and learning outcomes achievement will be discussed, along with this study's limitations and implications for teaching.

Objective: The biomedical/behavioral sciences lag in the recruitment and ad­vancement of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. In 2014 the NIH created the Diversity Program Consortium (DPC), a prospective, multi-site study comprising 10 Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) institutional grantees, the National Research Mentor­ing Network (NRMN) and a Coordination and Evaluation Center (CEC). This article describes baseline characteristics of four incoming, first-year student cohorts at the primary BUILD institutions who completed the Higher Education Research Institute, The Freshmen Survey between 2015-2019. These freshmen are the primary student cohorts for longitudinal analyses comparing outcomes of BUILD program participants and non-participants.Design: Baseline description of first-year students entering college at BUILD institu­tions during 2015-2019.Setting: Ten colleges/universities that each received <$7.5mil/yr in NIH Research Project Grants and have high proportions of low-income students.Participants: First-year undergraduate stu­dents who participated in BUILD-sponsored activities and a sample of non-BUILD stu­dents at the same BUILD institutions. A total of 32,963 first-year students were enrolled in the project; 64% were female, 18% His­panic/Latinx, 19% African American/Black, 2% American Indian/Alaska Native and Na­tive Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 17% Asian, and 29% White. Twenty-seven percent were from families with an income <$30,000/yr and 25% were their family’s first generation in college.Planned Outcomes: Primary student outcomes to be evaluated over time include undergraduate biomedical degree comple­tion, entry into/completion of a graduate biomedical degree program, and evidence of excelling in biomedical research and scholarship.Conclusions: The DPC national evaluation has identified a large, longitudinal cohort of students with many from groups histori­cally underrepresented in the biomedical sciences that will inform institutional/ national policy level initiatives to help diversify the biomedical workforce.Ethn Dis. 2020;30(4):681-692; doi:10.18865/ed.30.4.681